by James Somers
“What’s that?” Jason asked.
“During Rome’s former glory, gladiators were trained to fight against one another to the death for Rome’s sport,” Solomon said. “Christians were also fed to lions and other wild beasts in the Coliseum.”
“Like my dream,” Jason said to himself.
“What dream is that?” Chloe asked.
Jason gave her a sidelong glance. “Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, what else has been happening?”
“Russia and China have been moving their forces,” Solomon said. “We believe they will soon march against Palestine as the scriptures foretell. One of the coming judgments will scorch men with great heat and dry up the Euphrates river in Iraq, making a clear passage for the kings of the east.”
“Theed has been seen in New Rome, here and there, making public appearances,” Chloe said.
“But we think he may still be in Jerusalem,” Solomon said. “The scriptures seem to indicate this, and our spies claim he has been seen around the Temple. He may be trying to lure his enemies to attack so that he can finish them.”
“I remember reading something about Russia and her allies coming down to take a spoil in Israel,” Jason said. “Ezekiel, wasn’t it?”
“You’re right,” Solomon said. “Russia is prophesied to be drawn into Israel by God…some hook in their jaws. No doubt they will be drawn in by their own lusts to conquer Palestine. God promises to destroy them on the mountains of Israel by supernatural means.”
“But if they think Theed is in New Rome?” Jason mused.
“Then they might seize the opportunity to attack,” Solomon said.
“But why would Theed want them to attack?” Jason asked. “His own army is not so great that he could easily defeat the combined forces of Russia her allies. It would be suicide.”
“Perhaps if we were talking about a normal man,” Chloe suggested. “Theed cannot be defeated by them. Christ will personally defeat him at Armageddon.”
“Besides,” Solomon said, “Theed has raised an army of two hundred million as the scripture foretells.”
“Those nightmares who ride the horses with the heads of lions and tails like serpents?” Jason asked. “They’re for real?”
“Of course they are,” Solomon said.
“I had hoped they were symbolic of something else,” Jason said.
“We just have to take God at his word, Jason,” Solomon said. “Remember, these are times like the world has never known before. Nevertheless, the horsemen are real and they’ve been wreaking havoc everywhere they go. They kill as many as they come across, issuing fire from the mouths of those creatures like flamethrowers.”
“Where are they now?” Jason asked.
“Their numbers are divided around the globe,” Chloe said. “Some emerged in what’s left of the United States, while others have been seen in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia…almost anywhere you might think of. They even kill those with the Mark of the Beast.”
“That seems strange,” Jason said. “If they’re demonic in nature, wouldn’t they preserve Satan’s converts?”
“Satan only seeks to keep mankind from Christ in order to destroy us,” Solomon said. “He has no desire to preserve even his own followers.”
Jason sipped at his cup of coffee. He wondered why Alfred had remained just outside of the room. He thought of calling his old friend inside, but there seemed to be some reason for his strange behavior.
“Well,” he said, “there’s just so much that I’ve missed. Still, I am grateful to you all for saving my life in Jerusalem.”
Chloe smiled.
Solomon stood up then. “Well, I suppose you would like to get some rest.”
“Actually,” Jason said, “I think I’ve had enough sleep to last me a lifetime. But I would like to talk to Alfred and maybe get dressed.”
“Of course,” Solomon said. “Chloe and I will let you have some privacy. Then we can show you the facility here and what’s left of the city.”
Chloe got up and followed her father toward the door. She turned to smile at Jason before exiting. “If you need anything, let me know, all right?”
Jason returned her smile. “Absolutely.”
When Solomon and his daughter had walked down the hall, Alfred took his cue and entered.
“Well, old friend, you’ve been awfully quiet for some reason,” Jason said. “What’s going on with you?”
Alfred came to stand at the foot of Jason’s bed. “I am glad to see you awake and doing so well,” Alfred said. “Especially after the injuries you sustained during your fall.”
“I’m not surprised to find that I have you to thank for my life, Alfred,” Jason said, smiling. “Of course, it’s not the first time you’ve saved my life.”
“I believe the count is eighty seven,” Alfred said in all seriousness.
“Yes, well, I’m afraid I owe you a debt I can never repay.” Jason finished off his coffee and sat the cup down on the small bedside table. “Was there something else you wanted to discuss with me?”
“Indeed,” Alfred said. “I did not think it wise to mention this while Solomon and Chloe were present.”
“What is it?”
“I have received a message of sorts, sir.”
“A message of sorts?”
“Actually, I wasn’t sure what I was receiving at first. The transmission came on an encrypted frequency utilizing a very old mid-twentieth century script.”
“Morse Code?” Jason muttered.
Alfred looked genuinely surprised. “Yes, sir. How did you know?”
“Just a guess, Alfred,” he said. “Who was the message from?”
“Strangely, it came from Agent Mad Hatter, sir,” Alfred said. “His location was New Rome.”
“S.O.S.,” Jason said.
Again, Alfred seemed taken aback. “I’m sorry, sir, but how could you know? You’ve been in a coma all this time.”
“Call it a premonition, Alfred,” he said.
“What do you suppose it means?”
“It means our old friend has gotten himself into trouble and he needs our help.”
RESISTANCE
“How can you even think of going into New Rome?” Chloe asked.
“He’s my friend,” Jason said simply.
They were sitting in a makeshift situation room occupied by several tablet interfaces and some satellite uplink equipment. A rack of weapons had been mounted on one of the walls. Solomon sat in a chair watching the exchange unfold between his daughter and Jason. Alfred stood near the door passively.
“He’s one of them,” Chloe said, “part of your old life. You don’t owe him anything.”
“Did anyone owe me rescuing when I was lost?” Jason asked. “I used to be just like him, but God saved me. Why can’t the same be said for him? I’ve told you about my dream—”
“That doesn’t prove anything,” she said.
“Doesn’t it, though? I was in New Rome and heard the transmission—S.O.S.—in Morse Code no less. That can’t be a coincidence. I even saw the Coliseum and the Christian martyrs dying in the arena. Why can’t you just accept it?”
“How can I accept what you’re saying, Jason?” Chloe said. “You’re talking about going into one of the most dangerous places in the world. Just getting within the wall is nearly impossible. Not to mention the riders patrolling everywhere, killing people with fire. And if you did get inside New Rome, how would you find him? How would you get back out again, if you did find him?”
“God is the one sending me, Chloe,” Jason said. “He’ll provide the way.”
Chloe stood there looking at him until tears began to stream down her face. She looked at her father, but found no reassurance in his eyes. Instead, she turned and walked out of the room past Alfred.
An awkward silence hung in the room until Solomon finally spoke. “She cares for you, Jason. I think Chloe understands the situation well enough. It’s just that she’s afraid she won’t see you again,
if you go.”
“But I have to go, don’t I?”
“If it’s the Lord’s will then, yes, you have to go,” Solomon said. “But that doesn’t make it any easier on her.”
“I don’t want to make anything hard on her,” Jason said as he began to pace. “I do care for her a great deal, too. But what else can I do? If Hatter is in real trouble then maybe this is God giving me an opportunity to get to him with the gospel. Even if I died in the attempt, isn’t it worth everything trying to save a soul?”
Solomon smiled knowingly. “You’re right, Jason.” He stood up and looked around, stifling a small laugh. “What a base of operations, huh? If I had anyone to send with you, I would.”
“I was surprised to find it was only you and Chloe out here. I just assumed you had a team with you.”
“It’s just best this way,” Solomon said. “Traveling is much easier with only the two of us. But it wasn’t easy smuggling you here. I don’t know what we would’ve done without Alfred’s help. That perceptor tech came in very handy along the way.”
Jason changed the subject. “Solomon, do you think New Rome is that secure?”
Solomon considered the question for a moment. “The wall is well fortified—too much tech to go that way. The gates are their weakness, but still tough. They’re patrolled by humans and robots alike. You’re very unlikely to blast your way in.”
“A sky-net was also put into service after our assault upon the New Eden Complex tower where you killed the real Oliver Theed,” Alfred interjected.
“Alfred is right,” Solomon confirmed. “An airdrop is out. That static field would fry anything, seen or unseen, traveling New Rome airspace without direct authorization. A small commuter jet crashed there shortly after they had the field up. Some random glitch left them flying in without the proper key code. The sky-net sheered right through the plane killing everyone on board.”
“Well, no matter what, I’ve got to try,” Jason said. “Surely the Lord will provide a way, if it’s his will to send me.”
“Of course, you’re welcome to all the equipment we can provide you,” Solomon offered. “We still have your perceptor uniform with us, as well as a few other goodies from the old days you might find useful.”
“Thanks,” Jason said. “I really do appreciate your help.”
“Still, I do hope you come back in one piece with your friend,” Solomon said. “It’s worth a try, at any rate. Just please try to speak to Chloe about it again before you and Alfred leave.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Chloe interrupted. They both turned to find her standing in the doorway behind Alfred. “I’m coming with you.”
“What?” Jason asked.
“I’m coming too,” she repeated. “And there’s no use trying to talk me out of it either. If the Lord can send you, then he can send me as well.”
Jason looked to Solomon, but found no argument there. In fact he had a sheepish grin spreading across his face. Silence hung in the room for a moment.
“Perhaps,” Solomon offered, “the best help we can really give you is for both of us to come along. Heaven knows you could do with a bit of looking after until you get back to full strength. You have been in coma for a year, after all.”
Jason looked around the room. Even Alfred offered no argument against their decision. “I know when I’m licked,” he said. “At least I won’t have to worry about those awkward goodbyes I was dreading already.”
RAIDERS
Twilight’s fading sun glazed the town in hues of pink and orange. Jason watched the nearly empty streets from his hillside perch nearly five hundred yards away through his contact lens displays. “Where are the trucks, Alfred?” he asked, though Alfred was currently stationed in a different location.
The H7 replied through Jason’s auricular receiver. “Approaching from the northern road, but still approximately three miles away.”
“I wonder if they have a curfew in place like many of the others have,” Solomon said.
“They’re certainly staying off of the streets,” Jason said. He noticed the ruined buildings to the east where war had long ago ravaged the old city. This village, like many others across Europe, had sprung up in the ashes during the 2050-60 decade following. New Rome, and other mega-cities, had grown to engulf the rest. Cities like New Rome had swallowed as much as a fifth of the countries they represented. Their power and influence had become immutable.
“Are you sure about this plan of yours?” Jason asked.
Chloe gave him a sidelong glance. “Do you have a better idea for getting inside the security wall? The only thing going in and out on the ground are authorized vehicles. We can’t disable their body scanners—we have to go in with one of those trucks to get in at all.”
“I still wish you and Solomon had stayed in Venice,” Jason said. “If we’re discovered, I’ll never forgive myself for allowing you to come along.”
“I didn’t ask for your permission,” Chloe said. “You weren’t going to get away from me that easily.”
She gave Jason a little smile, letting him know that she meant it in the best possible way. He gave up with a sigh. “I just hope this works.”
Solomon stood up. “Well, we had better get moving if we want to hitch a ride while the raiders are preoccupied with the townspeople.”
“That’s the one thing I do feel guilty about,” Chloe said as she and Jason stood up from their hiding place next to her father. “I wish we could help those people escape what’s coming. We’re counting on them being captured.”
“That will happen either way,” Solomon assured her. “Their fates are in the hands of the Lord, as are ours.” He started down the hill leading toward the town below, trusting the approaching darkness and their perceptor tech uniforms to hide them.
Chloe gave Jason a quick kiss on the cheek. “For luck?” she offered. Then she activated the invisibility function on her perceptor uniform and faded into twilight’s shadowy murk. Jason heard her steps as she began down the hill after Solomon. Jason slipped into invisibility as well and followed them.
By the time they had descended into the valley where the town lay, darkness had fully come. Trucks could be heard roaring through the streets, disgorging their soldiers under the banner of the New Eden Alliance and its High Representative, Oliver Theed. Everywhere they went throughout the town, screams of anguish followed them.
Jason watched as men, women and children were dragged from their homes, in some cases kicking and screaming. Some went more quietly, while others had to be tranquilized. Still, no one they came for escaped. The soldiers were simply too many.
Chloe was trying not to sob next to him. Jason put his arm around her shoulder. “There’s really nothing we can do,” he whispered. He knew this was far from consolation, but it was still the truth.
Christians were being rounded up everywhere they could be found. He didn’t like it any more than she did, but he knew they couldn’t save everyone. The scriptures were quite clear that this would happen. Could they defy God’s plan?
She whispered back to him, “I know we can’t, but it still breaks my heart to see it happening.”
Solomon crouched beside them. “If we’re going to do this, now is the time.” He switched back to invisibility again, preparing to move out of the bushes into the street.
Chloe sniffed a final time as quietly as she could then switched to invisibility as well. Jason did the same. “Alfred, we’re moving out,” he said.
“Copy that, sir,” Alfred replied through Jason’s receiver. “I will eliminate three of the soldiers, making the warm body count correct once you’ve hidden yourselves on top of the trucks. One of them will be a driver. I will replace him. Since I won’t count as a warm body everything should be fine. Of course,” he continued, “we’ll then be inside New Rome, perhaps the most dangerous city in all the world for a Christian.”
Jason smiled to himself. “That’s the idea, Alfred. We’re on a rescue mission—remember?�
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“But the Coliseum, sir. Are you sure about this vision you mentioned?”
“The Coliseum was in the vision, Alfred,” Jason said. “I think that’s where we will find Hatter. I can’t explain it more than that, and we’ve no time to discuss this further.”
“Yes, sir,” the robot said. “I will meet you inside the city.”
“Last minute jitters?” Solomon asked. But he didn’t wait for an answer. Solomon moved out into the street—a slight blur the only sign of his passing.
Jason sighed then followed Chloe and Solomon out toward the trucks. It was difficult not to intervene, seeing believers torn from their homes around them. But they moved on silently.
More than a dozen trucks had entered the town. Jason, Chloe and Solomon each chose a truck then climbed up the side of the frame which was covered in heavy canvas cloth. They each took up their places, lying face down spread eagle on the frames. It would be an uncomfortable ride to say the least, but the padding in their perceptor uniforms would absorb some of the bumps.
A soldier clubbed a husband while his wife and daughter huddled in a corner screaming. The soldier left the unconscious man lying on their living room floor as he stood to gather up the man’s family. Alfred became visible behind the soldier, startling the wife and daughter out of their cries. The H7 appeared in his usual form as Jason’s middle-aged manservant—his favorite guise.
Alfred snatched soldier back off of his feet by the neck. He wrenched the man’s head around causing a sickening crack that echoed around the living room. His index finger flew to his lips beckoning for their continued silence.
The robot quickly tumbled the body into a closet then turned back to the wife and daughter. They gasped when they saw his appearance. Alfred now wore the soldier’s face and clothing. Only his voice remained the same. “Wait until the trucks have left the town then take your husband and leave this place.”
The woman nodded uncertainly, remaining crouched in the corner with her daughter. Alfred winked at them and smiled. Then he disappeared out through the front door.